Uganda solidified their two-place gain in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini with a second defeat of Tunisia in five days in Tunis.
The Rugby Cranes climbed from 39th to 37th when the rankings were updated at noon on Monday thanks to their 20-14 victory in the first test at El Menzah National Rugby Stadium last Wednesday.
Their reward for that victory was an improved rating of 49.29, up from 47.93, which took them above their hosts and Paraguay in the rankings.
Tunisia had started the series as the higher ranked of the two sides in 37th, however, defeat last week dropped them five places to 42nd with the Philippines, Croatia and Colombia also benefitting despite not playing.
In a complete contrast to the women’s series between the nations, Uganda completed a 2-0 series win on Monday and that result will have an impact on the rankings when they are next updated at noon (GMT) on 4 December.
Uganda will be rewarded for their second win in five days with an extra 1.09 ratings points, which will take them beyond the 50-point mark (50.38) but still leaves them 0.08 points behind Sweden above them in 36th.
The loss of 1.09 rating points will drop Tunisia further down the rankings – to 48th – meaning they will have fallen 11 places since the start of the series.
Elsewhere last weekend, Czechia gained 0.38 rating points for their 34-24 victory against Lithuania in the Rugby Europe Men’s Trophy 2023-24.
Despite the result, Czechia remain 35th in the rankings, albeit with the gap to Kenya above them having close to just 0.20 points.
Lithuania, meanwhile, have dropped one place to 43rd because of defeat with Colombia the main beneficiaries, as they move up two places to 41st.
(Photo credit: Fat Cats Podcast)
